Endobronchial Blocker

The present invention relates to a medical auxiliary device, and more particularly to an endobronchial blocker, which utilizes integrated innovation to solve the clinical problems by providing a ballon image monitoring module and an elbow module to enhance its applicability, so as to achieve precise angle adjustments for the ballon to reach a desired position during intubation and to monitor the blocking state of the ballon in real time, thus reducing the risk of surgical interruption greatly.

A conventional endobronchial blocker on the market is designed based on the tracheal tube. However, because the front end of the endobronchial blocker has an inflatable ballon as a means to be secured to the wall of the bronchial tube, it needs to be placed inside the tracheal tube to reach a desired position of the bronchial tube. After the ballon reaches the desired position, it is inflated to be secured on the inner wall of the bronchial tube. However, during thoracic surgery, the ballon of the endobronchial blocker may be displaced due to surgical tension, resulting in the interruption of the left/right lung respiration and the need to readjust the position of the endobronchial blocker. Therefore, it is necessary for the endobronchial blocker to cooperate with an image flexible tube when in use. Besides, the front end of the endobronchial blocker has a curved section to guide the front end to be inserted in the patient's bronchial tube, so that the medical staff can rotate the endobronchial blocker to change its direction. However, the conventional endobronchial blocker has two major drawbacks. (1) The endobronchial blocker itself does not have an image flexible tube. Additional bronchoscopy is required to confirm the position of the intubation and to reposition it case of displacement during surgery. However, the narrow space inside the endotracheal tube often causes inconvenience in operation. According to clinical statistics, more than 90% of physicians believe that they have this problem. (2) The conventional endobronchial blocker is made of plastic material, which cannot be rotated flexibly. Intraoperative readjustments often cause surgical interruptions and other issues. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the medical profession to address these shortcomings.

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an endobronchial blocker, comprising an operation box, an extension tube, a ballon, an inflation module, and an elbow module. The operation box is combined with the extension tube and the elbow module to control the movement and direction of the ballon during placement. A ballon image monitoring module is configured for internal illumination and image capture during intubation, so as to confirm the correct positions of the extension tube and the ballon to be inserted in a patient's bronchial tube. Then, the inflation module inflates the ballon so that the ballon is secured at a predetermined position to block off the patient's bronchial tube, and the blocking state of the ballon is monitored in real time through the ballon image monitoring module.

In order to achieve the foregoing objective, the present invention provides an endobronchial blocker. When in use, the endobronchial blocker is inserted in a patient's bronchial tube for medical treatment. The endobronchial blocker comprises an operation box, an extension tube, a ballon, an inflation module, and an elbow module. The operation box has a first accommodation room and a second accommodation room therein. A communication hole is formed between the first accommodation room and the second accommodation room. The first accommodation room is formed with an operation hole relative to a top of the operation box and a connection hole relative to a bottom of the operation box. The extension tube is connected to the second accommodation room. The extension tube has a first passageway and at least one second passageway therein. The extension tube further has a first end portion, a second end portion, and a mounting portion on an outer surface of the extension tube close to the first end portion. The ballon is disposed on a surface of the first end portion so that the ballon is in communication with the first passageway. The ballon is in a deflated state during movement. The inflation module has an inflation tube connected to the first passage at the second end portion for supplying a gas to the ballon to be inflated. The elbow module includes a pulling means and a control handle. One end of the pulling means is inserted into the extension tube and connected to the first end portion, and another end of the pulling means is linked to the control handle. The control handle is operative to bend or straighten the extension tube.

Preferably, the endobronchial blocker further comprises a ballon image monitoring module. When in use, the ballon image monitoring module and the elbow module control the extension tube to reach a predetermined position of the patient's bronchial tube, and the inflation module inflates the ballon so that the ballon is secured at the predetermined position to block off the patient's bronchial tube, and a blocking state of the ballon is monitored in real time.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of this disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

andare an exploded view and a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.are state schematic views and structural schematic view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention in different operations.are schematic views of the preferred embodiment of the present invention in different blocking states. As shown in the figures, the present invention discloses an endobronchial blocker. The endobronchial blockercomprises an operation box, an extension tube, a ballon, an inflation module, an elbow module, and a ballon image monitoring module. When in use, the endobronchial blockeris inserted in a patient's bronchial tubefor medical treatment.

The operation boxhas a first accommodation roomand a second accommodation roomtherein. A communication holeis formed between the first accommodation roomand the second accommodation room. The first accommodation roomis formed with an operation holerelative to the top of the operation boxand a connection holerelative to the bottom of the operation box. The operation boxof the present invention includes a body, a first side cover, and a second side cover. The first side coveris assembled to one side of the bodyto form the first accommodation room, and the second side coveris assembled to another side of the bodyto form the second accommodation room.

The extension tubeis connected to the second accommodation room. The extension tubehas a first passagewayand at least one second passagewaytherein. The extension tubefurther has a first end portion, a second end portion, and a mounting portionon the outer surface of the extension tubeclose to the first end portion. The extension tubeof the present invention extends out of the operation boxfrom the second accommodation room. In a specific implementation, the extension tubehas a first passagewayand a pair of second passageways. The pair of second passagewaysare disposed at two opposite sides of the first passageway. When installed, the pair of second passagewaysare arranged in a horizontal direction when the operation boxis in operation.

The ballonis mounted on the surface of the first end portionso that the ballonis in communication with the first passageway. The ballonis in a deflated state during movement.

The inflation modulehas an inflation tubeconnected to the first passageat the second end portionfor supplying a gas to the ballonto be inflated.

The elbow moduleincludes a pulling meansand a control handle. One end of the pulling meansis inserted into the extension tubeand connected to the first end portion, and the other end of the pulling meansis linked to the control handle. The extension tubecan be bent or straightened by operating the control handle. In a specific implementation, the elbow moduleincludes two pull ropes, a control handle, and a rotary disk. The pull ropesare inserted into the second passageways, respectively. The pull ropeseach have one end fixed to the first end portionand another end passing through the communication holeand connected to a corresponding one of two mounting holesof the rotary disk. The control handleis linked to the rotary disk. By operating the control handle, one pull ropeis extended and the other pull ropeis retracted, enabling the extension tubeto be bent or straightened. The two mounting holesare respectively disposed at two diagonal positions of the rotary disk. The two diagonal positions are 180 degrees. Each diagonal position is at 90 degrees to the position where the corresponding pull ropeenters the rotary disk. In addition, the operation holeis linearly configured. The control handleis operated along the extension direction of the operation hole.

The ballon image monitoring moduleincludes a lighting element, an image capturing element, and a control signal element. The lighting elementand the image capturing elementare electrically connected to the signal control element. The lighting elementand the image capturing elementare spaced apart from each other and disposed on the mounting portion. The control signal elementis mounted inside the operation box, corresponding in position to the connection hole. In this embodiment, the ballon image monitoring moduleincludes two spaced lighting elements. The two lighting elementsare light-emitting diodes. The image capturing elementis a complementary metal oxide semiconductor. In order to facilitate the connection for monitoring and control, the endobronchial blockerfurther has a signal portwhich is electrically connected to the signal control element. The signal portis disposed at the connection holeand configured for connecting a monitor.

To enhance the safety and convenience of the operation, the endobronchial blockerfurther comprises an alarm module. The alarm moduleis disposed on the surface of the operation boxand electrically connected to the image capturing element. The alarm moduleincludes an image analyzing element, an image database, at least one light indicator, and a buzzer. The image analyzing elementanalyzes the image obtained by the image capturing elementand compares the contour and the circumference of the ballonin the image database. When the exposed contour of the ballonis greater one-sixth to one-twelfth of the circumference of the ballon, an abnormality is detected and an alarm is given by the light indicatorand the buzzer.

Furthermore, the endobronchial blockerprovided by the present invention further comprises a gas supply tubeto facilitate surgery. The gas supply tubepasses through the first passagewayinside the extension tubealong the second accommodation room. One end of the gas supply tubeis located at the first end portionto form a gas supply port. The gas supply portis spaced apart from the ballonat a distance from a position where the ballonis to block off the patient's bronchial tube for gas supply.are schematic views of the present invention used to block off the patient's bronchial tube.illustrates a fully blocked state. When the image analyzing elementdetects that the tissues on the surface of the bronchial tubehave been expanded by the ballonto form a tight seal, the exposed contour of the ballonis less than 1/24 to 0 of the circumference of the ballon, which indicates that it has been blocked by the tissues on the surface of the bronchial tubeso that the contour of the ballonis nearly invisible. The contour of the balloninis indicated by a dotted line. The alarm moduledoes not give any alarm.illustrates a non-blocked state. When the image analyzing elementdetects that the ballonis slightly displaced to the tissues on the surface of the bronchial tubeand the exposed contour of the ballonis more than one twelfth of the circumference of the ballon, the alarm modulewill light up one light indicatorand the buzzerwill emit a low-frequency alarm to alert the medical staff to make adjustments.illustrates that the ballonis greatly deflated or displaced. When the image analyzing elementdetects that the exposed contour of the ballonis more than one sixth of the circumference of the ballonand the bronchial tubeis not fully blocked, the alarm modulewill light up two light indicatorsand the buzzerwill emit a high-frequency alarm to alert the medical staff that the ballonis greatly displaced or deflated or the inflation device is damaged so the surgery cannot be performed.

Accordingly, the endobronchial blockerutilizes the extension tubein combination with the ballonand the ballon image monitoring modulefor internal illumination and image capture during intubation. The ballon image monitoring moduleis operated through the operation box. The ballonis inflated by the inflation module. The ballon image monitoring moduleis configured to confirm whether the movement and direction of the extension tubeare correct. The elbow modulecontrols the correct position of the extension tubeto be inserted in the patient's bronchial tube. The inflation moduleinflates the ballonso that the ballonis secured at a predetermined position to block off the patient's bronchial tube, and the blocking state of the ballonis monitored in real time to avoid problems and prevent surgical interruptions, thereby enhancing the accuracy, stability, and safety of intubation surgery.